Flash player won't work Win7 IE8

Question

Apart from not being able to download flash-player from the Adobe Downloads section (for some reason I don't get a prompt to download it at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer). Flash player itself doesn't seem to be working correctly.
I have downloaded install_flash_player_ax.exe from a direct link on one of these forum discussions. I once had adobe flash-player installed (or so I thought that it was installed) however it appeared to be incapable of working (on some webpages I see a "broken" red x icon); so I uninstalled it. Now that I reinstalled it  (disabling Norton) it does the same thing: "broken" image. I checked in control panel>programs & features and it did indeed say that Adobe Flash PLayer 10 ActivX was installed.
Note: I did uninstall it with uninstall_flash_player.exe and rebooted the computer

Answer 1

Thanks again. I just did a quick review of Spybot and they say there should not be any incompatibility issues with Norton.
Then I did a Search trying to see if Spybot have an Anti-Virus component which would conflict with Norton. They categorize a Trojan as included as Spyware and some AV's call it a Virus. The terms sort of blend as to the definitions of each type of Malware.
The S&D Helper is sort of difficult to explain. It comes with Spybot, but many users turn it off since it's hard to understand and pops up alerts very frequently. I haven't used it in a few years so can't say if it still has that annoying habit:-)
Something is blocking the FP ActiveX Control that we know. I know the Administrator Account needs to be used and normally you would receive a message from Adobe Flash Player if that was the issue.
Did you Disable Norton this way?
Right Click and Open Norton. Turn off Smart Firewall and Auto Protect
Under Miscellaneous Settings, Disable Norton Product Tamper Protection
1- Open IE 8. Goto Tools -> Manage Add-ons.
2- Disable the following:
-Norton Toolbar
-Symantec NCO BHO
-Symantec Intrusion Prevention (IPS)
Did you have the same Anti-Virus programs when you updated Flash Player prior to this latest version? Did you have any problems as you are having now?
Since something is blocking that ActiveX Control and we can pretty much rule out Administrator and Kill-bit, then Anti-Virus or Malware are about the only 2 things that could be involved.
Is your System a 32bit or 64bit? If it's a 64bit are you using the 32bit browser?
Thanks,
eidnolb